"Then... let's just take this island."
Aus's casual words, spoken as if discussing something as trivial as eating breakfast, left the townspeople feeling like they were in a dream.
They watched this kid they'd raised from childhood, now a big shot who could casually decide a nation's fate, and felt their scalps tingle with a mix of excitement and disbelief.
Around town, some girls who'd grown up with Aus whispered to each other, hearts racing as they looked at the handsome, towering, and devastatingly powerful Aus.
"Actually, when we were kids... I always thought Aus was really hot~"
"Huh? Yuli, did you forget when you gave Aus that handkerchief as a kid, and he used it as toilet paper?"
"..."
The townspeople buzzed with excitement, but only Old Kik frowned with worry.
"You know what you're dealing with, don't you, brat? This country's king contacted the World Government!"
"You're still young—you don't get it. The World Government runs deep. Back when Captain Rocks was at his peak... eight hundred years of power, that's a fucking monster of an organization!
Aus, listen to me, don't be so reckless..."
Watching Old Kik analyze everything like his life depended on it, clearly terrified Aus would do something suicidal, he just smiled.
"Chill, old man."
"The World Government's got serious backing, sure... but I'm not stupid enough to go head-to-head. If I want to bounce, there's nowhere in the world that can cage me."
"Besides, the World Government owes me a favor. For some rinky-dink New World country, I'm betting they won't give a shit."
Old Kik's brain nearly short-circuited.
The World Government owes him a favor?
And while he knew Aus had to be strong now, he still didn't grasp exactly how strong.
Maybe as strong as the old captains?
But that still wouldn't survive getting swarmed by the World Government's "knight squads."
"Well... you'll see tomorrow. It's getting late, so let's call it a night." Aus shrugged.
Hearing this,
the gathered residents, despite being pumped with curiosity, tactfully headed home.
Old Kik led Aus and Mihawk toward his house.
On the way, Old Kik kept sneaking glances at the ridiculously pretty, cold young man carrying that massive sword.
He couldn't help patting Aus's thigh and whispering, "Is he your crew?"
"Crew?"
Aus blinked, rubbing his chin. "Not really, since I haven't officially started a pirate crew yet. More like a partner."
"Oh, and he's a Great Swordsman too."
"Oh!!! Got it, like Captain Shiki, right?!"
Hearing that last part, Old Kik—who'd been suspicious about this clean, pretty boy being some weird hobby of Aus's—suddenly got it.
Anyone who could unleash that kind of insane sword energy couldn't be dead weight.
Thank god it's not some weird granddaughter-in-law...
If he was someone like Captain Shiki, being Aus's right hand made sense.
Old Kik had been a potential "Aus fanboy" since the kid was tiny, clearly positioning Aus sky-high in his mind—treating him like the next Rocks.
So when he saw that note about Roger snatching Aus away, he nearly had a stroke.
From then on, he picked up the same habit as Aus—religiously reading newspapers and tracking the Roger Pirates' every move.
Hunting for any reports or wanted posters featuring Aus.
God knows how fucking ecstatic he was two years ago when Roger got captured—he thought Aus would finally come home. Who knew there'd be radio silence for two solid years.
That's why he kept bitching about Aus "forgetting his roots"!!!
"Brat, how long you staying this time?" Old Kik hunched over, hands behind his back, shooting Aus a sideways look.
The question sounded casual, but his hands were clenched tight enough to draw blood.
"Hmm... probably a few months, then I've got other shit to handle."
"I see... stay busy, being busy's good..." Old Kik nodded like he totally got it.
He never expected Aus to stick around long anyway. As a top dog on the seas, he should be out there conquering oceans.
But he had no clue
that Aus's "business" wasn't what he imagined—fighting for territory and building crews.
Besides beating the shit out of Marines, Aus hadn't properly done any of the stuff great pirates were supposed to do.
...
The next morning,
Old Kik looked like a new man in fresh clothes—his old combat gear from his youth, though it hung a bit loose now.
Aus caught this with Observation Haki from his room and had to bite back a laugh.
After instantly throwing on clothes, Aus materialized in the courtyard. "It's not that big a deal—does it need to be this dramatic?"
"Brat! This is my first expedition since hanging up my boots!!!"
"Do whatever makes you happy. It'll be over in like two seconds anyway."
Aus shrugged and headed for the kitchen, where Mihawk had breakfast ready.
Outside the courtyard, half the town had gathered at the door. Old Kik threw it open with the energy of a man half his age.
The simple townspeople obviously knew what they were about to witness, and couldn't help sweating:
"Is this really okay? Old Mayor, that's the kingdom's army and the World Government!"
"Hahaha, no sweat..."
Old Kik's laugh could've powered the whole island.
"Aus is strong as hell!!!"
...
"Still no word?"
In the fancy-ass palace, nobles and ministers huddled together whispering.
On the throne sat some young punk wearing a crown, grilling his guards.
"Nothing. We lost contact with Count Huke after last night's operation!"
"Fuck!!!"
The king's face twisted with rage. "The World Government officials are showing up any minute, and we still haven't scraped together the Heavenly Tribute..."
"Worst case, we'll bleed the capital residents dry again..."
"Report!!!"
A panicked messenger's voice echoed outside the palace. "Enemies!!!"
"What the hell?!?!"
Hearing this frantic announcement, the young king shot to his feet, stormed down the steps, and glared at the soldier. "What did you just say?"
But the moment the soldier lifted his head to report, his eyes went wide as dinner plates, mouth working like a fish out of water without producing a sound.
"What?" Following the soldier's terror-frozen stare, the king spun around and nearly shit himself when he saw
a figure in black lounging on his throne, legs crossed,
one hand propping up his head, the other with index finger extended like a gun barrel, aimed right at his skull, grinning as he provided sound effects:
"Bang—"
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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